5 Ways Everyone Can Improve Their Restaurant Management

They say to work smarter than harder, and the restaurant industry is no exception to this rule.

Sticking to an outdated management process while the competition continues to innovate will only keep you lagging in the long run.

As a manager, you will know that customer experience depends on food and service. Recent studies of Yelp customer reviews even show that customers react to bad restaurant experiences with signs of minor trauma!

No one wants to be responsible for it, so here are five ways to help improve your restaurant management.

Gather customer feedback

Gathering customer feedback is, and will always be the best place to start when you want to improve.

By asking them to fill out a short survey, leave an online review or comment card contents, you can see areas you like and areas that may need improvement.

Remember to remain impartial while reading your feedback-as hard as you can! Some things may be more useful than others, but it’s important not to waste feedback because you do not like them.

Bookkeeping software

Is your obsolete restaurant bookkeeping software holding you back?

Time is money and efficiency is always the key, so you need to look to save time wherever you can.

Newer, more up-to-date software will allow you to manage your inventory, see your menu costs, digitize your invoices and expenses.

You can even send a check to the vendor with just a few clicks, bringing the admin management time properly while maintaining a high level of transparency and efficiency.

Give your team the tools they need

It looks simple but can really make all the difference.

Fully stocked with linens, trays, cutlery, glasses and cushions means your team will have everything they need to do a good job.

Making sure you are properly equipped not only helps the team, it also helps maintain a high level of quality and consistency for the customer.

Poor old linens and unsuitable cutlery will not help your reputation.

Give your team a chance

Even if you are lucky enough to have a team full of loving and enthusiastic people with a natural inclination towards hospitality, incentivisation goes a long way to maintaining a high standard of service.

Set goals based on KPI and customer service targets and reward staff members who hit the markers.

You can even get into the competition to help ignite the fire of participation!

Hold a monthly team meeting

Not just customers who have important business insights to share.

Try holding a team meeting every month or quarter and collect feedback that the entire team has to offer – cooks, kitchen coolies, wait staff, and host.

There may be a process that causes friction across teams or slows down the service, thus bringing this issue into the open and trying out new ways of doing things.

It is important for the staff to feel like they have a voice, so let them talk!

Try applying some of these ideas and see the differences they can bring to your restaurant’s efficiency.